《The Bones of an empire》Chapter 4
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She stares at his extended hand, confused. 'Was he an idiot? Why would he talk to her?' She thinks to her self. Her Father's gaze still lingering over her. She needs to clear her mind before she can even think of training. She grabs his hand, the mild tremble still in her grip. They stand together, the fresh forest air washing over them.
She lets out a slight shiver from the cold breeze, her gaze glances over the small thin looking child beside her. He takes in a large breath of the cold air.
"What kind of training could a shrimp-like you even be doing out here," She asks brazenly.
"I was hoping for somewhere quiet and alone, so I could try and focus on magic, but that didn't go to plan," Issac says with a smirk, looking to Willow.
"Focus on magic? are you an idiot? do you actually think you'll awaken at your age or something?" She says, void of any filter, barraging Issac with criticism. She looks at him curiously,
'Is he the child of some noble or aristocrat or something?. I've never seen him around town before, so it can't be anything else.' she thinks to herself.
"I don't think that at all, aha, I already awakened. But I can't seem to figure it out at all." He says with a chuckle, giving himself a backhanded compliment. Willows's heart sank as she heard his words.
'am I really his inept? What am I thinking? Of course, I am. I'm just that bad.' She thinks to herself, staring into nothingness. Her breathing becomes heavy, and her stomach churns. Issac looks glances over her. Her sudden shift in demeanour leaves him feeling uneasy.
"You okay?. Sit down and take a breath," He suggests in a calm voice, his hand on her back as he tries to calm her down.
"Of Course, That makes sense. Everyone does better than shitty Willow!" She roars in an outburst. Issac ignored it in its entirety. She stomps ahead towards a tree. Issac stands confused. Why was she so upset?. A bubbled up anger begins to burst as Willow pulls her fist back. In the blink of an eye, she smashed her fist into the harsh bark of the tree. Repeatedly punching the study tree several more times, blood quickly trickling down her knuckles.
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"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Issac yells, Grabbing her forearm tightly. His calm voice nowhere to be seen. His face crunched inwards in frustration.
"You other nobles don't understand anything, do you?! You're just like my brother. You all think you're better than everyone else. Now, LET GO OF ME!" She screams erratically. She pulls her arm back, sending her elbow crashing into Issac's stomach. Standing firm Issac ignores the pain, his harsh gaze burning away at Willow. Shaken for a moment, she stumbles back a step.
"And you said I was an idiot?. When did I say I was a noble or better than anyone else?. Stop being a spoiled brat and acting like a damn victim. Look at you, clothed, fed. You don't have a single clue, do you? If you want to get better, try to practice harder." Issac says in a brutally honest voice, crushing what little confidence Willow had left. She stands silent, thinking over her words carefully.
"You don't understand! I've tried! I've trained and trained and trained!. With all kinds of teachers! But nothing changes!" She cries out in an outburst. The apparent frustration of dealing with a child's attitude begins to weigh on Issac.
"Stop being an idiot. Your training has clear results. You're tougher than plenty of the children your age. Stop being impatient. Rushing will only hurt your progress even more," Issacsays in a calm tone. The atmosphere swiftly changes. She falls to the floor. How could anyone but a noble talk to her like that? Ignoring her, Issac sits on the floor, his eyes closed. Holding out his hand, he focuses on the mana inside him. The tingling sensation he'd come across many times town flickering just before his grasp.
An orange light glistens from his palm for a moment before vanishing.
Willow watches from the side. The puttering light appears and vanishing frantically. In awe, she looks on. Silent, she leans in closes, examining the barely existent magic.
"Oh my god! You can do fire magic! You really are awakened!" She shouts, unmindful of the focusing Issac. Issac's focus severed, the flame disappoints, letting out one last put and a small burst in his palm before fading into nothingness. A sharp headache begins to pierce his head. Was it from trying to use magic or the girls nagging?.
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"Next time before you freak out, try and meditate. Clear that thick head of yours and try to find and gather the little things floating around inside you." Issac says, hoping to give her even a little insight into awakening.
"What does that mean, what little things floating around inside me?" She asks in a frantic voice. Eyes wide in curiosity.
"Well then, If you've calmed down, I'm going back into town. Try not to freak out any more tonight," Issac says, waving his hand behind him, trotting back towards town.
Gunnar sits at a table in a small room, Elain cutting the vegetables for their soup that boils away. The smell of a vegetable wafts around the room, putting a slight smile on Gunnars face.
"Mmm, damn, that smells good, aha. Aye, y'know that child has some real talent, even if he does have a ways to go," Gunnar says, holding a tankard of ale in his hand.
"A huh, and what kind of training did you two end up doing," She asks in a nosey tone, looking over he shoulder to her husband, spoon still in hand.
"Nothing serious, I swear! Ahaha. I just showed him some moves and got him to try them. The boy was real clumsy on his feet, but his technique is damn impressive." Taking a large gulp of ale as he finishes speaking.
"Ugh, I really wish you wouldn't drink so much. How's our 'talented' son going to act if he sees that so much." She says in a sly voice, a grin on her face.
"Hmm. Maybe your right. Okay then. Take this and drink some. That way, we're both drinking, aha!" He says in a joking manner, making light of her comment. Her grin stays, grabbing his tankard. Egging her on. His smile widens, nodding for her to go ahead. In a fell swoop, she gulps down the entire drink. His face in a wide shock.
"AHAHA, what was that women!. That was my drink!" He says with a hearty laugh. Grabbing the spoon from her hand, he continues to stir the simmering dinner. "Since you took my drink, I'll take your spoon!. Now go sit," he says, pointing down at his now-empty seat. The two filling the house with childlike giggles as they enjoy their night.
'I should hurry home soon. Mum and dad will worry if I take too long,' Issac thinks' to himself, walking down the town's dirt road. The sound of cicada's adding white noise. Work finished for the day. Many were beginning their nightly adventures, drinking ale and laughing over meals. The flicker of torches and lamps lit the path in beautiful flickering lighting. Issac stands still, soaking in the scenery. It had been years since he last felt such a free and calm atmosphere.
If this was his last life, this would be impossible. He would have spent his night working with commanders and soldiers for his wars. No time to spend with any loved ones, well, not like he had any. 'All those blood wars, and we never even got the freedom we even desired...' Issac thinks to himself, humming a slow melody as he walks. Each step he takes seemingly heavier than each one he took before.
Issac stands at a door, still, taking a moment to compose himself. He knocks on the shabby wooden door in front of him.
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